Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-31

faithful execution OF this coDstltu-
tional provision by the Executive
OF every State, for every State had
equal interest in the execution
Of the compact absolutely essential TO
their piece and well-being in their in
ternal concerns as well as members OF
the Union" 1t was clearly not the in
tention Of the trainers OF the Constitu-
tion that the Governor OF any State
should decide eT pdrte or from testi-
mony upon the merits Of the case, but
that the case should be tried by the
court finding the Indictment. As you
have, however, gone somewhat into the
investigation OF this particular case,
have the honor to enclose to you copy
of letter from the Commonwealth s
attorney of Allegheny county, from
which you will see you have been mis-
taken in conclusions drawn from the
statements that have been made to you.
In view of the facts therein con-
tanned, l have the honor again to in
quire il yod will honor requisition
from me for John w. Skiles, now fu-
gitive from justice in the State of Ohio !?
have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servant,
FIrzHUGH LEE.
JAMES BOWLER,
ATTORNEY AND COUNSELLOR ATLAw,
CONVICTION, VA, May %, 1887.
His ErceUcncy F1tzhugh Lee, GOvor-
nor Of Virginia, Richmond, Va. !:
Dear Sir,-Replying to your favor of
the 2lst instant asking for information
in the case Of The Commonwealth Us.
John w. Skies, L have to say that the
testimony before the grand jury that
indicted Skies was about as follows /:
John w. Skies in 1881 sold to j. V.
Ryals, James ID. Ryals, w. w. Womack,
j. f. Hughes, and Hez. Massie one
half interest in silver-mine in Colorado
for $4,000, six thousand of which
was paid in cash by check on the
Augusta National Bank. Mr.. Skiles
collected the check, and the paid
check is now in my possession. When
hr. Skies made the sale he gave the
parties O sample of the silver ore which
he said had been taken from the
mine by himself, and when asked
how much of the ore in the
mine was like the sample his
reply was, "Every spoonful. He fur
ther stated that he had opened and
worked the mine himself, and there
fore knew the representations made by
him were true. Relying on these
statements of Mr.. Skiles, the parties
purchased as above stated. They then
sent one of their number to Colorado
to have the mine worked. After he
got there he found that Skies had
never been within one hundred miles
of the place that the mine was ut
terly worthless, there not being one
grain of silver there.
have now in my possession the sam
pie of silver ore that MIR. Skiles sold
by. 1t is said to be rich in silver-in
fact, the very best quality of silver ore.
have also in my possession q sample
Of the rock actually taken from the al
legged NINE 1t is said to be utterly
worthless, not one atom of silver in it
and it certainly has that appearance.
The real charge was obtaining money
under false pretences but as our law
makes false pretences larceny, he was
indicted for larceny. j. +. Hughes and
w. w. Womack, two of the witnesses
who were before the grand jury, are
men above and beyond reproach.
Their word has never in any way been
questioned. Captain Massey, who is
also gentleman of high characte., was
not before the grand jury. / am in
formed that Mr.. Skiles left the county
and State soon after he obtained the
SG, 000-on the very day, believe-and
has not been back in the State since I;
and have it from good authority that
t. is is not the only crooked transac-
ton that Mr.. Skiles engaged in while
be was in the county His own uncle,
Mr.. Thomas j. Daggs, told me that
Skiles had swindled him out of some
5000 very much in the same way.
Daggs also told me that Skies had
cheated his (Skiles's) minister in Phila-
delphia out of something like S12, 900.
mention these rumors only to show
the reputation Mr.. Skiles has in this
county. Very respectfully, &c,
JAMES BOWLER,
Attorney for Commonwealth.